Spirit is the key to success

Steve Caldwell last night identified an unshakeable team spirit and a strong sense of friendship as Sunderland's chief advantage in what promises to be a fascinating climax to the Premiership promotion race.

Steve Caldwell last night identified an unshakeable team spirit and a strong sense of friendship as Sunderland's chief advantage in what promises to be a fascinating climax to the Premiership promotion race.

The Black Cats returned to winning ways with a determined 2-0 triumph at Cardiff on Saturday and, having refused to let a demoralising home defeat at the hands of West Ham disrupt their challenge for top-flight football, Mick McCarthy's men look set to push their Coca-Cola Championship rivals all the way.

At the midway stage of the campaign, the Wearsiders remain third in the league standings and seem well-equipped to sustain their battle with Wigan and Ipswich for a top-two finish.

And Caldwell believes it will not just be Sunderland's footballing ability which gives the Black Cats the edge as they prepare for the second half of the season.

"We have this amazing team spirit, we all get on really well," said the Scottish international, who played a key role at Ninian Park as the Wearsiders matched the two teams above them with three points. "We really like spending time together, on and off the park, and that helps our football.

"When you're friends, you can be honest with each other and get the best out of each other and give that extra yard to one of your close mates. We have that and it's tremendous. "The team spirit is something I'm really enjoying and I'm sure it will go from strength to strength and we will get better as players.

"The fact that a lot of us are of a similar age is a big thing and we have similar interests. The gaffer (McCarthy) and Taff (assistant boss, Ian Evans) like a bit of banter and they have helped to create that team spirit.

"We have great staff here and a good feeling amongst ourselves and we have to keep it going. It's a strange thing that so many people can come together and all be friends, but I really mean it. Every single person at this club is a great friend to me." Caldwell joined Sunderland in the summer from Newcastle - a club dogged by rumours of dressing room unrest and training ground cliques - and is playing the best football of his career.

The 24-year-old has arguably been the Black Cats' top performer in the first half of the season. The way in which he has bonded with Gary Breen in the heart of a defence which has kept 11 Championship clean sheets has been the foundation on which a promotion challenge has been built.

"Myself and Gary have a very good understanding," he said. "We have to keep it going and keep as many clean sheets as we can for the remainder of the season but it's a joy to play with him. "I always looked forward to coming to the club and playing with a player as good as Gary.

"But it's not just about us, the entire back five and the rest of the team have done really well this season and played a big part."

The Black Cats have yet to move into the top two this term but the way in which McCarthy's men have bounced back suggests that they will sustain their challenge.

"We had to forget about West Ham, we couldn't change the result, we couldn't get three points back and we had to move on," added Caldwell. "We have got back to winning ways. We weren't great on Saturday but I felt we were in a different class. We're keeping our feet on the ground. There's a long way to go but we're on track and we feel we have the squad to keep getting wins.

"We're still getting better as a team, we are improving all the time, and to go to somewhere like Cardiff and not play so well but be rugged and solid and still come away with a comfortable 2-0 win shows how far we have progressed."